Arab American Candidate Results

Posted by Emily Manna at 11:49 am

AAI is committed to updating you on the results and progress of Arab American candidates running for office and reelection across the country. You can always view the candidates and their election results here.

Arab American members of Congress fared well in last night’s election, with at least four of the five retaining their seats. Arab American Congressman Charles Boustany (R) will face off against Congressman Jeff Landry (R) in a December runoff election. Boustany had a clear lead in last night’s election, taking 45% of the vote compared to Landry’s 30%, but failed to garner the 50% of the vote required to avoid a runoff.

In California, Rep. Darrell Issa (R) handily won his reelection bid, as expected, and Rep. Richard Hanna (R-NY) also claimed a sizeable victory, defeating Democrat Dan Lamb by nearly 50,000 votes. In Michigan, Rep. Justin Amash (R) held on to the 3rd district with 52.7% of the vote, and Rep. Nick Rahall kept West Virginia’s 3rd district firmly out of the hands of Republican Rick Snuffer with 53.9% of the vote.

Also in Michigan, StateRepresentative Rashida Tlaib (D-6) was reelected with a whopping 92% of the vote, and George Darany retained his seat as the 15th district State Representative. Mike Bouchard was reelected as Oakland County Sheriff, and newcomer Sam Salamey defeated incumbent Richard Wygonik by a large margin to become Michigan’s new 19th District Court Judge.

Rahall’s was not the only Arab American victory in West Virginia, as Doug Skaff of South Charleston was also reelected to the House of Delegates. California also saw multiple Arab American successes; State Assemblyman Allan Mansoor (R) won his reelection in the 74th district and Johnny Khamis, candidate for San Jose City Council, currently maintains a lead in votes, though the result will not be final until later today after the mail-in ballots are counted.

In Florida, Michelle Kalilwon the election for Duval County Judge, and State Attorney Angela Corey was unopposed in her race for reelection. Arizona State Senator Michele Reagan (R) was also unopposed in her reelection bid for the 23rd District.

Although Arab American Joe Kyrillos (R) lost his U.S. Senate bid in New Jersey, Samir Hayek was reelected to the Prospect Park Borough Council. Texas State Representative Mark Strama (D) ran unopposed to keep his District 50 seat.

AAI was happy to see so many Arab American candidates run for office this year; please let us know if there are any Arab American candidates we missed. We congratulate all those candidates who won their races, and hope to see even more Arab American successes in the future.

From the desk of Dr. Zogby

In a few days, Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will mount the podium of the U.S. Congress to speak before a joint session of the House and Senate. He will use the occasion to blast Iran and issue dire warnings about the current US-led negotiations designed to limit Iran's nuclear program. Read More »

Air Date: 5/31/2012
Fellows from Syracuse University’s “Leaders for Democracy Fellowship Program (LDF); Bill Press, Host of the “Bill Press Show” and author of the new book, The Obama Hate Machine: The Lies, Distortions, and Personal Attacks on the President---and Who Is Behind Them. Read More »

The story of Arab Americans coming of age as an organized community is a classic American tale of immigrants seeking opportunity, benefiting from America’s freedoms, but also experiencing, at times, the dark side of exclusion and discrimination that has so often been a part of our nation’s history. Read More »